ISLAMABAD, June 13: A grant of over Rs150 million available with International Labour Organization (ILO) for a programme in Pakistan is in doldrums due to administrative bottlenecks in the information ministry, senior ILO officials told Dawn.

The ILO country director Pakistan, Hans J Lokollo, replying to a query said the grant was given in March and the information ministry was informed about the project, which was to be initiated with the funds.

According to a presentation given by ILO-IPEC national programme manager, the funds would be utilized for an information and awareness programme to be launched in print and electronic media. The project would be run by the ILO in collaboration with the information ministry.

When asked, about the kinds of bottlenecks being encountered by the ILO in implementing the project, Mr Lokollo said the ministry had yet not finalised the PC-1 for the project.

The two year project, which was to be initiated during March was already delayed by a couple of months.

The ILO was under pressure from the donors in this regard, he said.

He said the ILO would hold a meeting with the ministry to brief them about the hurdles faced by the ILO, so that the matter would be resolved within a month.